Reduction in Waste to Landfill

Reducing waste to landfill conserves resources, reduces potential future liability and decreases costs.

In 2001, Goodyear established a global baseline for waste disposed in landfills per unit of product. Using 2001 as its base year, waste disposed in landfills in 2006 was 34 percent less per unit of production. In 2007, every Goodyear facility has been challenged to achieve zero waste to landfill by the end of the year. Nine Goodyear plants have already achieved a zero waste to landfill goal. These facilities include five locations in Germany – Fürstenwalde, Fulda, Hanau, Riesa and Wittlich, and four plants in the Asia-Pacific region – Aurangabad and Ballabgarh, India, Indonesia and Taiwan.

In an attempt to eliminate all landfill disposals by the end of 2007, Goodyear has adopted the 3-R principle: reduce, reuse and recycle. Historically, Goodyear has spent significant time and effort to reduce the amount of waste it generates. It focuses on improving materials and processes, and minimizing the amount of materials that aren’t used in final products. When the company is not able to eliminate waste or reuse the material on site, it recycles the material for another use or for energy recovery. As part of its zero-waste initiative in North America, Goodyear has directed its plants to increase efforts to avoid producing waste, and to recycle unavoidable waste.

When landfill disposals are eliminated, Goodyear expects to achieve a significant milestone in risk reduction, yet recognizes that it will require diligent attention to maintain its commitment.